Middle Childhood Education Learning Objectives

The Middle Childhood Licensure Program is dedicated to the concerns of educating 4th -9th graders (9-14 yr. olds). Ohio is one of few states that has mandated a license that devotes its curriculum to candidates who become middle child experts. Middle childhood licensure candidates major in middle childhood education and focus on two areas of concentration from the four broad disciplines of language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science.

Middle childhood candidates are encouraged to be reflective lifelong learners who utilize their in-depth content knowledge through applying a variety of teaching methods that are responsive to pre-adolescent/adolescent needs. They are encouraged to recognize their personal dispositions in order to help themselves develop into caring teachers.

At Mount Union, a middle childhood education degree, with additional coursework, leads to a license to teach grades four through nine in two areas of concentration. We also offer additional coursework to add an endorsement for grades 4-6 in the other two areas of concentration.

Education Learning Objectives

The Teacher Education Program at Mount Union prepares competent, capable and caring teachers. The common objectives developed in all program areas include:

Candidates will demonstrate understanding of the subject matter areas and create meaningful learning experiences based on this knowledge.

Candidates will demonstrate an understanding of each student’s cognitive, Social, physical, and emotional development and to create learning opportunities that support student academic development.

Candidates will demonstrate the ability to recognize and value student diversity and the differences in how students learn and provide instruction to accommodate such diversity.

Candidates will demonstrate the ability to develop instructional plans based on student's needs, curriculum goals and models, subject matter and community.

Candidates will demonstrate pedagogical knowledge and skills and use this expertise to encourage each student to develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

Candidates will demonstrate the ability to create a classroom environment that facilitates learning and a climate that encourages fairness, positive social interactions, active learning, and self-motivation.